Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 6 1.1. Comparative findings .............................................................................................................. 7 Contexts and prevailing patterns .................................................................................................... 9 Inadequacies in legal and institutional framework for the prevention of torture ....................... 12 Lack of Accountability ................................................................................................................... 19 Reparation ..................................................................................................................................... 23 1.2. Conclusion: challenges and opportunities ahead ................................................................. 25 COUNTRY STUDIES ..................................................................................................................... 28 1. Bangladesh ......................................................................................................................... 28 1.1. Practice and patterns of torture ........................................................................................... 28 1.2. Legal framework ................................................................................................................... 30 International law ........................................................................................................................... 30 National legal system .................................................................................................................... 31 1.3. Safeguards and complaints mechanisms .............................................................................. 32 Limits to and supervision of pre-trial detention ........................................................................... 32 Access to a lawyer and compulsory medical check-up upon arrest ............................................. 35 Admissibility of evidence obtained under torture ........................................................................ 35 1.4. Accountability ....................................................................................................................... 36 Complaint and investigation ......................................................................................................... 36 Applicability of amnesties and immunities ................................................................................... 37 The protection of victims and witnesses ...................................................................................... 38 1.5. Reparation ............................................................................................................................. 38 1.6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 39 2. India ................................................................................................................................... 40 2.1. Practice and patterns of torture ........................................................................................... 40 2.2. Legal Framework ................................................................................................................... 42 International law ........................................................................................................................... 42 National legal system .................................................................................................................... 43 Non-refoulement .......................................................................................................................... 44 Jurisdiction over torture committed abroad ................................................................................ 44 2.3. Safeguards and complaint mechanisms ............................................................................... 45 Limits to and supervision of pre-trial detention ........................................................................... 45 The role of Human Rights Institutions .......................................................................................... 46 Access to legal advice and compulsory medical assistance upon arrest ...................................... 47 Admissibility of evidence obtained under torture ........................................................................ 47 2.4. Accountability ....................................................................................................................... 48 2.5. Reparation ............................................................................................................................. 50 2.6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 51 3. North East India and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act ................................................ 53 3.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 53 3.2. Key provisions of the AFSPA ................................................................................................. 54 Section 3 – the definition of a ‘disturbed area’ ............................................................................ 54 Section 4 (a) – the power to use lethal force ................................................................................ 55 Section 4 (c) and Section 5 – the power of arrest ......................................................................... 55 Section 6 – protection to persons acting under the AFSPA .......................................................... 56 3.3. The AFSPA in practice and its application by the courts ....................................................... 56 3.4. Conclusion: The application of AFSPA in light of NPMHR v. Union of India ......................... 58 4. Indonesia ........................................................................................................................... 60 4.1. Practice and patterns of torture ........................................................................................... 60 4.2. Legal framework ................................................................................................................... 62 International law ........................................................................................................................... 62 National legal system .................................................................................................................... 63 Non-refoulement .......................................................................................................................... 65 Jurisdiction over torture committed abroad ................................................................................ 65 4.3. Safeguards and complaint mechanisms ............................................................................... 65 Limits to and supervision of pre-trial detention and complaint mechanisms .............................. 65 Access to legal representation and compulsory medical examination upon arrest ..................... 67 Admissibility of evidence obtained under torture ........................................................................ 67 4.4. Accountability ....................................................................................................................... 68 Applicability of statutes of limitation and amnesty ...................................................................... 69 4.5. Reparation ............................................................................................................................. 70 4.6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 71 2 5. Kazakhstan ......................................................................................................................... 72 5.1. Practice and patterns of torture ........................................................................................... 72 5.2. Legal framework ................................................................................................................... 73 International law ........................................................................................................................... 73 National legal system .................................................................................................................... 74 5.3. Safeguards and complaint mechanisms ............................................................................... 75 Limits to and supervision of pre-trial detention and complaint mechanisms .............................. 75 Access to legal advice and compulsory medical assistance upon arrest ...................................... 77 Admissibility of evidence obtained under torture ........................................................................ 77 5.4. Accountability ....................................................................................................................... 78 5.5. Reparation ............................................................................................................................